Torpedo



April 22 1-924. 1,490,995

T. E. VAN METRE ET AL TORPEDO Filed may 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 22 1924. 1,490,995

T. E. VAN METRE ET AL 1 TORPEDO Filed May 17. 1822 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Man Metre J Qzr'r'er I Gr :nu u V Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. VAN METRE AND JAMES S. GURRIER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

.TORPEDO.

Application filed Kay 17, 1922. Serial No. 561,701.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS E. ,VAN METRE and JAMES S. Gunmen, both citizens of the United States, residing at Newport, Rhode Island, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedoes and more particularly to improvements 'in' the practice head.

To enable oneto more fully understand the inventionit may be briefly statedthat the standard Navy torpedo may be said to be divided into three parts, the after-body containing the engine and steering mechanism, the central body containing the air "flask Midfi h m e s, andt e. f war ien or warhead. I w 7 Prior to the acceptance of the torpedo after its construction, it is put through a number of severe tests during which a practice head of substantially the same size and shape is substituted for the war head. These test runs are not always successful and it frequently happens that a torpedo leaves the range or the engine or steering mechanism are defective causing the torpedo to sink to the bottom of the range during trial and it is diflicult under such circumstances .to locate the torpedo and recover the same whereby recourse may be made and further tests carried out. I

The present invention, therefore, is directed to an improved practice head provided with means adapted to insure a relative positive buoyancy of the complete torpedo and bring it to the surface if for any reason it goes below a predetermined depth.

One of the objects ofv the present invention is to provide a simple and practical mechanism of the above general character which will be reliable and eflicient in use and operation.

A further object is to provide an improved practice head with an inexpensive assembly which may be easily and quickly installed in practice heads now in general use without material modification.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the last above mentioned character which will not function until after a predetermined delay which time element allows the torpedo to come to its proper depth setting. r

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the last above mentioned character with steering means cooperating with the practice head to cause an upward deflection thereof.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which will operate after a predetermined time in cases where the water is not sufliciently deep to cause an operation of the mechanism hydrostatically.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating suchparts of thepractice head as are necessary to understand theinvention.

*n;this;aaaaganaesthesiaence characters are denoted by corresponding parts,

Figural is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the complete head, and,

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the actuating mechanism.

Referring nowto the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figure 1, the head shell 5 is of the usual standard type provided with strengthening ribs 6 and a nose piece not shown tofacilitate handling and recovcry of the torpedo. The usual standard torch case 8 and depth and rolling register mechanism 9 are indicated in outline but have no special part or relation in the present invention. The rear end of the'practice head is provided with a jointring 10, a bulkhead 11 and bulkhead ring 12 with suitable gaskets 14 of substantially the usual construction only slightly reenforced for the purpose of more effectively resisting the internal gas pressure developed within the practice head by the mechanism hereinafter described. This practice head is filled with water through an inlet plug 16 at the top which water may be drawn off through an outlet plug 17 at the bottom. A water outlet valve 18 is normally held in closed osition by spring 20 against its seat 21, ba ast 22 is provided at the forward end of the head as may be necessary. The mechanism shown in Figure 2 for efiecting the change of buoyancy in the torpedo and also cause an u ward deflection of the torpedo if it is st 1 in motion comprises broadly a bow rudder 23 shown in operative raised position in dotted lines and a gas generating mechanism including a chemical 24 withinthe container 25 which; under certain conditions; is adapted to be mixed with water 26 within the receptacle 27. The construction of this mechanism-may be more clearly described in 'conthe delay chamber is once filled any devia-' tionof the torpedo belowits normal running depth will increase the hydrostatic pressure upon a diaphragm .32 audit the set or 40 foot depth is approached the pressure .on this diaphragm is sufiiciently great to overcome the pressure: Qfg springv 33 thereby allowing a piston 34 t6 he forced downwardly by the hydrostatic. pressure of. the water within. the delay chamber 31 causing the ball release mechanisnr 35 to move downwardly also thereby pushing a cutter 36 ahead o' 'rhit.

Such downward .movement of the. piston aewill cause the ballrelease 35, to move downwardly also to release a ball38whereby the sea water pressure under the .bow 'rudder 23.will 'eausethe latter to rise to the dotted. line position and force the ball 38 rearwardly. The bow rudder now being released pivots about its hinge 40 and swings upwardly untilstopped at-the dotted line position by means of the links 41. and 42, the shock of the opening being absorbed by a checking spring 43. The bow rudder in this position immediately .gives the torpedo an up-rudder and it comes to the surface.

At the same time the bow rudder is being released the cutting plunger36 is. cutting the seal 44 in the water chamber 27 and the water 26 flows into chemical tank 25 containing a mixture of certain chemicals adapted to evolve large quantities of gas .when mixed with water. for instance, equal Darts by weight of tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate will answer thepurpose. This results. 1n the rapid generation of a large volume of gas, the pressure of which is sufficient to blow off the bottom cover 45 and release the entire contents 24 of the contamer 25 which drop into the cylinder 46 where the chemical action is continued in greater volume by the admixture of water from the head, this water having r'ree access to the gas generating cylinder through openlugs 47 and small holes 48 in the side. This cylinder prevents the ejection of the unused chemicals through the water outlet valve 18 because if deposited in the open head there would he a possibility of them being the casing is the v installed.

ejected before the water had sufiicient time to unite with them to form the desired quantity of'gas. i.

The gas pressure generated forces the valve 18 open b overcoming the pressure of spring 20a'n the water -is blown. out through the holes at the bottom thus causing the head to develop a positive buoyancy.

There is provided a means for operating the gas generating mechanism in case the torpedo should sink at any point during its run in water insuiiicie'ut to operate the depth spring 33. This means comprises a soluble washer 50 inthe delay chamber 31 upon which the water begins to act as soon as the torpedo is launched. After a predetermined period of time release spring 51 operates upon the cutting plunger 36 to carry the same downwardly thereby cutting the seal 44 and releasing the water within the container 27 after which they actionis the same as that above described. In assembling the present mechanism, the chemicaltank 25 is made up with the container 27 ready for use.

Prior to making atrial shot with :th'e torpedo water isput into the container27. and

carrying the time depthfeascrewed into -.th.e -{flhe two units are then placed in'a flangasaand secured in place by screws 53. =..The bowrrud- (ler 23. and plate 54 together with the ball spring and links such as a bayonet joint indicated by flange .55. A set screw may be provided, if desired, to prevent lateral movement.

.From the above it is-believed that the construction and operation will be clear to those familiar with thesubject and a further statement thereof is unnecessary. 1

The invention is of simple and practical construction. reliable and eiiicient in use and operation and may be easily and quickly .W'ithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the .aistof this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that,

from the standpoint of the prior art. fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or. specific aspects of this invention r and therefore. such-adaptations should and are intended t be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of. the following claims:

1.. In a practice head for torpedoes. in combination. a. receptacle adapted to contain as forming materials. guiding means associated with the outer shell of the head and means for simultaneously actuating said guidin means and admitting water to said as forming material whereby said torpedo is caused to come to the surface if it sinks beyond a predetermined depth.

associated therewith are :secured in place by any des red means 2. In a practice head fortorpedoes, in combination, a receptacle adapted to contain gas forming materials, a water chamber adjacent thereto, a bow rudder and means for simultaneously releasing said bow rudder and admitting the water from said receptacle to said gas forming material if the torpedo sinks to a predetermined depth.

3. In a practice head for torpedoes, in combination, steering means associated with the exterior of the practice head which, when actuated, is adapted to cause an upward defiection of the torpedo, hydrostatically actuated means for releasing said steering means when the torpedo reaches a predetermined depth and a receptacle adapted to contain a gas forming material within the practice head to which water is adapted to be admitted with the actuation of said steering means.

4. In a practice head for torpedoes, in combination, steering means associated with the exterior of the practice head which, when actuated, is adapted to cause an upward deflection of the torpedo, hydrostatically actuated means for releasing said steering means when the torpedo reaches a predetermined depth, a receptacle containing gas forming material, an auxiliary receptacle containin water adjacent thereto, means for admitting the water to the gas forming material simultaneously with the actuation of said steering mechanism-including said hydrostatically actuated means which releases the steering means and establishes communication between the water chamber and the receptacle.

5. In a practice head for torpedoes, in combination, a pivotally mounted bowv rudder associated with the outer shell of said head, means for releasing said bow rudder, means for taking up the shock as said how rudder swings into operative position, a chamber containing gas forming material, a second chamber containing water associated therewith and means for establishing communication between said chambers when said how rudder is released.

Signed at Newport, Rhode Island, this 27th day of March, 1922.

THOMAS E. VAN METRE. JAMES S. GURRIER. 

